Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Heads Up, Huntsville

Darlings, I write in terrific haste as it's just about time to head up to Wisconsin for Knitting Camp. Dolores will not be going to Knitting Camp this year. Dolores has had quite enough excitement for one month, thank you very much, and if she knows what side her hot rum is buttered on she'll sit quietly in the living room this weekend and watch re-runs of "The Streets of San Francisco."

I've just confirmed with Meg, merry proprietress of Yarn Expressions in Huntsville, Alabama, that the final public shoot for 1,000 Knitters will take place down below the Mason-Dixon line on October 11, 2008. I crunched the numbers and found that there was just enough room to allow for one more trip; and as Meg had been sitting patiently at the top of the waiting list for so long that she'd built a shack there and begun having her mail delivered to it, Yarn Expressions is where it'll happen.

If you'd like to sit, and I do hope you'll consider it, advance registration is requested. Registration will open on Monday, July 28. Call the shop (check the Web site for contact information) and they'll get you signed up and send along a model release. There's more information for models here about how it all works.

It seems impossible that it was just about a year ago that Knitter 0001 (hi, Wyett!) cast on the scarf. At this point, it's so big it takes up about one-quarter of my largest suitcase. I haven't measured the exact length yet. I'm almost afraid to.

There will be dispatches from Knitting Camp, unless I encounter Internet issues or actually drop dead from excitement upon shaking hands with Emily Ocker. Yes, I am told Emily Ocker will be there. The Emily Ocker. How often do you meet a knitter who is also a technique?

Have a wonderful time at Knit Camp! And you know her better than I do (thank god) but wouldn't it have been a better - or at least safer - idea to leave Dolores in a straight jacket or something, rather than allowing her to remain free-range? Yikes.

Oh, that is such a delightful shop! They were so nice to me when I was a total newbie knitter and wandered in there while on a business trip. What a great place to wrap up 1000 knitters - I'm only sad I didn't get a chance to sit for it.

My dear friend, also a knitter, is going to be in your city in early Sept., for a brief, whirlwhind honeymoon (a brief prelude to the real one, I assure you) and I suggested that she sit for you, since she was in the neighbourhood, after all.

She replied, "No! Not me! I'm not a real knitter!"

My response doesn't bear repeating. I promise.

If she is so inclined, is there room for one more among the thousand?

She is a knitter. Actually, she is a better knitter than I am. And, I'm a very, very good knitter, if I do say so myself.

I used to live in Huntsville, and it may be a very good thing you're leaving Delores at home; those Southern boys wouldn't stand a chance against her! Although I do have to say I am dissappointed we won't have your company at Oregon Flock and Fiber in September!

Camp-man are you lucky. There has got to be some technique we could call The Franklin. The Snowman Hat...wait, maybe The Sheep in the Pocket, that tutorial on how to put a sheep in a pocket??? Ok, while Franklin is busy with Camp, let's have a contest for the technique we'll call The Franklin. Yes, it has to do with knitting. Please.

Congrats on scheduling the end of the 1000 shoots. Good work. For Sarah: really, he's not so bad to sit for; you don't even need anesthesia, really don't even need intense wool fumes; trust me, I am 0622 (I think).

If you can, catch my local yarn maven Betty K from La Crosse. She's totally awesome!! I've told her about your blog. I think she's helping to teach or host or something--she said she was running late with the projects she was supposed to have done. --Abigail

1,000 already!?That is amazing you are so close. Considering your charm, I am not surprised. With all the effort you put into the project, and more importantly reaching out to people, you deserve it. Hopefully knitters out there will be able to look at this and see that the knitting community takes all kinds of people. Yay for Franklin!!

And I am honored to have met you and accidently become knitter 0001. (I hope the cast-on edge does not look horrible, and the end has been woven in! Haha).

Franklin, I'm sure you are having and contributing to a fabulous time at Retreat 3. I went last year and had the same reaction to meeting Emily Ocker--a real double take. Then I realized that half of the folks in the Camp knits and Gathering of Lace book were there. And Debbie New. I'm surprised I didn't pass out.

Remember that some folks are saying "did you know the panopticon was going to be here?" in awe and excitement.

This year I was going to go again but then had to have a surprise major surgery in late June and had to cancel my registration. That was more painful than the surgery.

Meg had told me last year that you were going to be shooting at this year's Retreat 3 so I foolishly put off getting a photo taken at the local shoots in anticipation of the big anniversary camp bash.

Is it at all possible to get my photo taken before you do your final away shoot? I live in downtown Chicago so could easily get to your place or where ever public transportation could take me.

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